So, being the completely stressed out over worked teacher and new mommy I forgot to completely cover my cakes and just threw a towel over them. It has been about 4 days now. They are not completely hard but getting there. I am supposed to decorate them tonight, is there anything I can do to make them moist again or should I just make new ones? Thanks so much!

Whoa. I've screwed up like that before. I started over. Now I always wrap in plastic wrap. BUT....one simple thing you might try is to coat them with simple syrup.
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
bring only to boil then remove from heat.
let cool, add approx. 3 tsp flavoring of choice or liquer.
cover all of outside of cake. It might help.

i definetly would start over.. 4 days.. whoa!!! think about it.. hth

I would definitely start over. You do very nice cakes, and while I think simple syrup (as suggested) may help some, I really don't think it will bring back "freshness". I mean no disrespect, so don't take it the wrong way, but I don't usually eat cakes after about 3 days. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you.

Yeah, I'm going to say that you should go ahead and start over. I'm feeling pretty iffy about the cakes I baked a couple of days ago and I forgot to cover them for about 12 hours. The simple syrup might work, but it also might not. How would you really know until you bit into it? Do you want to take that chance?

I agree !00%. Start over. Sorry this happened.

Another vote for starting over. Yes, you loose time. But you have only one reputation, and to loose this because simple syrup and filling together didn't get your cake moist?

Actually, I had to do it once. I wrapped my cake, but somehow the cake was overbaken in the middle - rock hard. I noticed it when torting and had to start over. Ended decorating at 4 a.m. and at 7 a.m. driving the cake to the office, because it was for my colleague and we are starting very soon.

That's what I figured but wanted some reassurance. . . Thanks so much!!

Oh yes, I wouldn't use a 4 day old cake that isn't properly stored.

I wouldn't use it to serve at my house and I really wouldn't even think about giving it to someone else. Now 4 days wraped up in the fridge is another story-that's some good cake worth eating.

Yeah, I remade them. . . No worries! I tried a piece just in case and decided, like all of you, there was no way I would want to serve that. I have another question though; I made buttercream, just regular powdered sugar buttercream, about a week ago and went to use it tonight and there droplets on it. I don't know if they are water or oil but wasn't sure if I should just mix it back in or toss it. Any ideas?

What exactly are the ingredients for your frosting? If there is any milk in it, I might be concerned, but if it was made with water, then it should be fine I would think.

I would start over. It is not worth making a bad cake. Sorry.

OMG, I make it with water, no milk. I thought I had read that it can keep for a long time so I was kind of schocked.

you can keep buttercream for a while, even made with milk or cream. the ratio of sugar to your milk/perishable items acts as a preservative and will keep them from souring.

Just remix it and it will be fine. It would smell sour if it were bad. You can always take a tiny taste if you're not sure, but trust me... I make icing with butter and whipping cream and I've left it out for several days in a tupperware container or covered with saran and it tastes just as good as the day I made it.

I put it in the fridge if it's going to be out more than a few days though.

Thanks so much! I also try to put it in the fridge everytime.

I would just re-whip it and taste it to make sure it's fresh. Probably nothing wrong with it.